South Sudan Archive

Yei gospel Crusade 28th July to 1st August 2010

On Wednesday just before we were due to start there was rain! My heart sank and I thought that it was going to be rained out.  But God was so faithful it cleared just before I was due to preach and The people just seemed to arrive from everywhere around 6 or 7 thousand.  The openness of the people blessed us and we saw multitudes make a first time decision for the Lord. 

Pastor Jack Hanes Ministered on Thursday night Powerfully preaching  a message to a responsive crowd of 7 thousand or more.  What was remarkable was that all around the city of Yei it was raining heavenly yet the Freedom Square was perfectly dry!   Not a drop of earthly rain fell only the rain from heaven that wets the soul and quenches mans greatest thirst.

Pastor Don Matheney preached a powerful message on the cross of Jesus on Thursday night.  When the Large wooden cross was erected on the stage a holy hush fell over the crowd.  Some people covering their faces with their hands.  When He hammered a huge nail into the wood tears were flowing as a realisation that it was our sin that put Jesus on the cross.  Pastor Don preached powerfully naming several key sins and had the people write them down on a paper and tick them if they were guilty of them.  Joy flooded hearts when everyone tore their paper into little pieces and threw it into the air, revelation and understanding seemed to come to the whole crowd that their sins had been forgiven and taken care of.  Colossians 2:14  He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

It was my turn to preach on Saturday – I preached clearly on the blood of Jesus.  One point that I felt a specific pull on was how we have been given us boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.  A new and living way opened for us.  Fellowship with the King of kings was now possible by the Blood of Jesus. That we had been given access to the throne of grace where we could find help and obtain mercy in a time of need.  Multitudes realised that they still needed their sins washed away and responded to the Message.  Black clouds seemed to wait a short distance off as we finished a powerful wind swept across the field bringing a heavy downpour.  As I was walking back to the Hotel after the meeting the wind swept the field clean of the thousands of torn up lists of sin.  It was like a picture to me what had happened in the Spirit moments before the field was littered with the record of sins now it was swept clean.

On Sunday there was not a cloud in the sky the hot sun beat down on our heads.  It seemed for a while that Sunday meeting would not be well attended it was just simply too hot.  But the moment it cooled down close to 15000 people flooded Freedom Square.  I preached a very strong message on full surrender and commitment.  People understood and the Holy Spirit seemed to empower every word people all over the field responded surrendering their whole life to Jesus Christ. In the 5 days of meetings a total of about 43,000 people called on the Name of Jesus Christ. 

One healing that touched my heart was an old lady who had crawled on her knees since 1999.  Her knees looked like leather.  Jesus touched her and healed her and she was able to stand up and walk for the first time in 11 years! 
A gangster and thief testified how he had surrender to Jesus and was no longer going to continue that lifestyle.  Truly God moved in Yei touching multitudes and setting many free.
We also visited Yei prison giving out care packs and food to each prisoner and all the wardens.  The whole prison was present seated to hear the gospel.  Some of the young men were in chains and there were a few mothers with nursing babies.  Hearts now open responded to the word of God.

 

 

 

Maridi 23rd - 27th June 2010

Maridi South Sudan 23rd to 27th June

Dear friends,
Sudan is indeed a ripe harvest field and a fertile ground. I believe the answer is for men and women, boys and girls to hold fast to The Word of God and not let go; to do and to practise what they know and have heard. Since our last visit to Maridi in 2002, only one other gospel meeting has taken place, but there has been much development in the town – piped water to distribution points of rows and rows of water taps are dotted all over the town; by December there will also be electricity, and mobile phone networks are in operation. The greatest need remains for the BREAD OF LIFE TO BE BROKEN among the people.
We had a small taste of the effect that the Gospel can have on a people. I was told that in the Dinka culture, it is very much an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, forgiveness is considered a weakness. So usually, when someone is harmed or wrongly treated, strong revenge is planned. As God’s Holy Spirit moved in saving and touching lives, a man came up onto the stage to testify how he had surrendered to Jesus. At home, the Lord then convicted him about a severe disagreement that he had had with someone, which  caused great bitterness in his life as the two parties had not talked in years. And so he began to reason, “Why should I not forgive that man who did me great harm”. He realised that he was truly forgiven and now he wanted to forgive in return, so he said, “I now release this person”.
On Sunday, the crowd swelled to close to 10,000, and at least three quarters of the people indicated that they were sick when we asked, “Who needs prayer?” As Robin Aim, the Cathedral Bishops, and myself moved among the thousands of sick, laying hands on them, our hearts were moved with compassion at the dreadful state of some of the people. There were literally hundreds of blind people, and oh so many sick children.
On one of the days, during ministry, the Lord instantly opened the eyes of three women standing together. The deaf also heard as Jesus truly moved. One moving testimony concerns a lady who travelled 65 miles to the crusade. She had heard that God was healing and she came in great faith. Her hands were so weak that she could not feed herself and she could not even take a bath! The Lord rewarded her faith, and she went home strong. She was able to feed herself and also carry a basin of water for a bath! The Lord had completely healed her.
As I gave the call for salvation, it was wonderful to see how the Lord touched hearts. Almost the whole crowd responded. There were multitudes of salvations, healings and deliverances. The Holy Spirit ministered and filled many.

Daily Leaders Seminars

I shared the daily teaching seminars with a missionary friend, Robin Aim, who heads up AfriLift here in Kenya. Robin taught and ministered on “How to hear the voice of God”, which caused the leaders to hunger and desire more and more to hear the voice of the Lord.

Fruit that remains

In 2002, we had a notorious man get up and testify how he had been addicted to alcohol. I remember him saying the taste had gone and that he did not want it anymore. I wondered if this was still true. As I walked into the Church on Sunday, there he was, still faithful, and still serving the Lord. This was a true salvation.

Bishop Justin Badi writes.

Dear brother in Christ Evangelist Roger West
Grace and peace of God to you.
On behalf of the churches in Maridi and the entire people of Maridi, I would like to convey our words of thanks and appreciation for your ministry and especially the work done in Maridi. We have seen that the Lord has really used you to revive the church in Maridi. The situation in Sudan has made many people to stay with bitterness in their hearts and always planning for revenge. But I am glad that, through your ministry in Maridi, the Spirit of God has cleared this evil spirit of revenge and violence from the hearts of many people. I personally received two people who came to confess that they had forgiven those who offended them. There many other stories of people who have come to our pastors in different churches. We really thank God for such healing and the physical healings that many people received. The power of the devil and his kingdom was brought lower and lower as people surrender their charms, and those bewitched were released and healed from their troubles. The Gospel message is being uplifted higher and higher. People now have a fresh interest to listen to the local evangelists and preachers. Thank you, and may God continue to work through you for the expansion and advancement of His kingdom in the world.
We are in a critical moment in Sudan. We very much need your prayers and presence in Sudan to encourage and mobilise the churches to God in prayers and confession. We look forward to receive you again this year and next year in 2011. Greetings to your wife and may God bless all your ways.
Once again thank you
Yours in Christ
+ Justin Badi
Bishop of Maridi

Yei Meetings – 26th July to 1st August

Our truck and team is travelling today (1st July) through a very difficult piece of terrain, please remember them in prayer. Also for safety for Benson and Mogga, as last week the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) attacked a vehicle on the road between Maridi and Yambio.
We will have visitors with us in Yei – Pastors Jack Haynes and Don Matheney.
Also, we are now planning to return to Sibiti in the Republic of Congo in late August or early September. Please stand with us in prayer as we reach out to these cities with the Love of God.
Yours in Christ Roger & Shireen West.

 

 

Yambio 26th - 30th May 2010

Yambio South Sudan.  26th – 30th May 2010
Oh to be back in Sudan and see some of the folk we had met during our 2002 meetings.  Do you remember me I was just a young boy when you came with the tent, I am now serving God.  Or the lady who was totally mad roaming around the town of Yambio naked living off the very limited garbage people would throw out.  What a burden she was to her children what a nuisance she was in the town but back in 2002 The Lord touched her in the tent meeting and she was totally restored of madness of mind.  Now years later she was still praising God for the wonderful miracle. 
The first day’s meeting coincided with the inauguration of the new governor.  We started soon after these celebrations had finished, which resulted in many of the crowd just coming over to attend the Gospel meeting.  All was going well when suddenly what seemed out of nowhere a cool wind began to blow heavy black clouds soon seeped over and it poured with rain just as I had taken the microphone.   People scattered and took cover in every possible place while  Charles my interpreter and myself just stood on the stage with an umbrella for 30 minutes of so as it passed.  To my surprise very few people had left.  The crowd even grew.   I preached a very clear Gospel message which touched many hearts.  The Lord had given us a huge harvest of souls coming into the Kingdom many hearing the Gospel for the first time and many also re dedicating their lives to the Lord. 
Have you ever been witnessing to a friend or a relative and it seems they have are able to resist and refuse to surrender to the Lord calling them.  Have you ever thought how God reaches the lost?  We know God never does His saving work alone but gives man the privilege to be involved.  Our involvement includes being a sample of grace alongside a person.  It includes intercession and representing the person before the throne of God and then it includes pleading with the person on behalf of God to be reconciled to Him.   But after we have done our part it is up to God to do the actual saving.
Through the ages there have been hot debates on the subject of regeneration, how much of the new birth of a soul is God’s work and how much man himself was involved.  Asking some folk how they came to know Jesus, came this wonderful answer.  ‘I fought against God with all my strength and He Won!’  Well in Yambio the Lord moved in a wonderful way and won, there was a tremendous openness to the Gospel and a resounding YES at every alter call.  When God touches a heart with His Love it’s almost impossible to resist.  It was refreshing to see The Lord at work bringing in the harvest.   What a joy to have been involved in what He is doing.
Every night seemed to grow and grow.  It’s hard to get a clear figure of the new state of Yambio Headquarters but we estimate the town population to be approximately 20 to 30 thousand people.  What was remarkable that the Lord drew most of the population to the meeting on Sunday?  After an hour or so of jubilant praise and singing I took the microphone and started to preach the Gospel, suddenly the crowd beginning to scatter.  Another fierce storm was rapidly approaching!   We prayed asking the Lord to hold back the rain and the Lord totally stopped the rain, this was a real sign to the people that Jesus is alive.  Most of the crowd returned and the Lord moved seeking and saving the Lost.
Another touching miracle was a man partially blind he could not see more than a meter or so but the Lord touched him as he sat in the crowd and his eyesight was completely restored.  He was amazed to see!  What was remarkable he read from a bible with tiny print I could not even see!  Later we discovered this man was a prisoner and had somehow been loosed from prison to attend the meeting.
Shireen went into the prison and spoke giving a strong appeal to the 70 or so prisoners to surrender their lives to the Lord.  I sensed the Lords love and compassion for them as they repented of their sin as most came forward and knelt down some of them were in chains hand and foot.  I pray the Holy Spirit will work deeply in their hearts breaking every spiritual chain.
The Lord helped us in a marvellous way with a driver and already the truck and Benson are in Maridi.  Please remember us in prayer for the Maridi meetings 23rd -27th June.  The message of the Cross changes lives forever.   The Gospel is eternal but we don’t have eternity to preach it.  Now is Sudan’s time.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Roger and Shireen West.

 

Juba - Southern Sudan 10th July - 10th August 

RFM supplied the technical backup for Reinhard Bonnke

Rumbek – 3rd to 9th March  Kotobi – 17th to 23rd March 2003.

Our Land cruiser had made it to Rumbek by the grace of God. One mile before the city there was a noise and Jimmy noticed oil pouring out onto the ground. Urgent communications followed, we needed a new crankshaft pulley and seals. Without these we would be grounded. Well the Lord of the Harvest is not going to allow that to happen. We found every last item. A team of Sudanese mechanics had the car running in about 2 hours.

We arrived at Liberation Square to set up for the evening meeting. What a tremendous opening meeting with every hand of the 2500 people present, raising their hands to receive Jesus. Everyone present expected to receive a miracle as we prayed for the sick. Now the moment had come. I prayed for the Lord to heal the sick. The next day a flood of people came testifying of their healing. Four blind people could now see. A baby who had suffered with convulsions was now normal again. A lady who had been partially paralysed from a stroke was healed. Jesus was healing in Rumbek.

One touching testimony is of an old grandmother that came to the service totally blind. She didn’t receive her healing until she arrived home. At home suddenly her eyes popped open and she could see. That night her daughter delivered a baby and grandmother could see her newborn grandchild. Praise the Lord.

We were then scheduled to move on to Tonj but there was an error on our travel permit and we were not permitted to travel. Strangely I had peace about this. Later I learned that at the exact time I should have been there the town of Tonj received a visit from an American Evangelist. Sudan is hearing the Gospel.

We moved on to Kotobi taking almost 11 hours to drive the 150 miles! Although we were a week early we were warmly welcomed. Publicity was simple. We set up the sound system on the roof carrier and drove around the town announcing the upcoming meetings. Children ran after the Land Cruiser singing and dancing as we moved down the main road. Almost the whole town turned out to hear the Gospel, and most of those who attended gladly opened their hearts to Jesus and prayed the salvation prayer.

Again the miracles of healing astounded us all. Perhaps one of the most dynamic was a child with a mysterious disease, known as ‘nodding disease’. I was told that it affected the young children and whenever it was mealtime they refused to eat but just sat and nodded their heads continuously. Some had become so thin and weak that they died. Desperate mothers had sought help at the nearby hospital but doctors were unable to establish the root cause of this terrible sickness. Well after hearing about this during one evening crusade we took authority over this and spoke healing over the children. The very next day one delighted mother bought her child who had not been eating for some time and testified that after prayer the child had begun eating once again. The nodding had ceased.

The meetings were now over and we made our way back to Northern Uganda. On the way we heard marvellous testimonies of what the Lord did in Yei last year. A friend of mine who takes admissions at Sudan Pentecostal Bible School told me a wonderful story. While interviewing a new student and asking what prompted him to come to bible school he said, his wife had been barren and they had been trying for several years to have a child. She conceived immediately after prayer at the Yei Crusade last year and gave birth to healthy child. Now he wanted to honour God by serving him with all his heart.

Mambia Camp Hears the gospel 2nd –10th November  2002

After weeks and weeks of waiting to go back to Sudan the air space was re-opened and soon followed by the lifting of a ban on road travel. At last we were given the green light to go back in, but the conditions were very rough. Because of the security in Northern Uganda the technical team flew up to the Sudan/Uganda border. At the last minute Roger’s interpreter was able to come. As he was not able to get on the plane he took the bus that the technical team would have been on. The bus was ambushed 5 people killed and the rest robbed and abducted. Michael was among the few to escape. The technical team were only able to average 35 miles a day in Sudan sometimes driving in water up to the side mirrors of the Toyota Land Cruisers. With God’s favour our team made it to Tambura and found the truck and all the equipment exactly as we had left it. The new spare parts were fitted and they were soon on the way to Mambia camp.

On arrival we learned that no food aid had been delivered to the camp for over two months. People were desperate for food and any help offered. Many had left to other towns in search of food. Various Kenyan churches had collected clothing and shoes and we were able to help some of the most needy cases. The next day food aid from the UN began arriving and was soon distributed. Mambia now had natural food, we would now preach providing the spiritual food, but not without opposition. A small group of Catholic youth opposed the meetings as much as they could, marching the streets waving branches telling people not to go to the crusade. I am not sure it helped at all because people came with wide-open hearts and accepted Jesus gladly. Right before their eyes, the blind, deaf, crippled people were healed. Jesus is stronger than any opposition. The 3 chief witchdoctors were all in the meetings, all three of them were gloriously saved.

Since our last visit to Tambura a small Dinka Anglican church started in Mambia with just 12 members. After the crusade on the second Sunday the 12 grew to 112. The leaders were beside themselves with joy. Sudan Pentecostal Church also started a new work on the second Sunday with about 60 members attending the first service. The Gospel message rang out loud and clear across the camp. All those that were in the camp heard and gladly responded and were saved.

The Gospel gives the people hope, dignity and power to change their awful situations. False religions only offer people an aspirin on a sinking ship. Sickness is turned into health, depression and despair to joy and dancing, fear and darkness into faith and light. Jesus Christ is HOPE for the hopeless.

Thank you for helping us to take ‘Jesus Christ the hope of Glory’ to such needy people, to a people who had never heard the Gospel.

We gave each new convert follow-up material and clearly introduced the two new churches in Mambia camp. Several people walked from Tambura telling us how they were continuing on in Jesus after the Tambura meetings. You may remember James Wiel the witchdoctor that was saved in Yei, he is now working with an evangelistic team as a spanner boy serving God with all his heart. Aid workers from the UN came to share with us how they had been saved in Yei crusade earlier in the year.

Tambura Report 12 July- 24July 2002 Western Equatoria Sudan

Tambura Southern Sudan. Our Sudan Campaigns have opened our eyes to what God can do and to just how powerful the Gospel is. Salvation sweeping whole communities, the Holy Spirit falling, filling and transforming people. The mighty healing power of God sweeping across the town. No other message can do for the people what the Gospel is able to do.

Tambura was different to any other Sudanese town we have been this year. It all goes back to colonial rule when the geographical areas were divided out by the British Government to different religious groups. Tambura was given to the Catholics so 99.9% of Tambura was Catholic. The people were bound by a mixture of religion and witchcraft and lulled into a false sense of security that all was okay between them and God. We can only think of the scripture, I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. We planted the seed of the gospel and prayed like never before. Our whole team was so disturbed by the darkness, we organized a 24 hour prayer watch and called out to God for Tambura to be saved and the church to be established.

Well when we pray and when the Gospel is proclaimed the light comes on! People began to see and people began to turn from darkness to light. Many exclaiming, “We have been cheated, we have not been told the truth, but now we know.” Over 1500 people turned to the Lord! The small Pentecostal church with only 20 members is now bursting at the seams! There is still much work to be done but the “Tough Nut” has cracked! The people have gained victorious liberty.

One young man testified as the Word of God was going forth he realized he was in darkness and needed to turn to the Lord. He was in such terrible darkness that he had a small vegetable garden specially prepared and dedicated to demons! He and his family were struggling with nothing to eat and were plagued with terrible sickness! After he turned to the Lord, he trampled the garden and uprooted the herbs used for witchcraft practices and burned them. His mother who was very sick instantly rose up and recovered from a sickness that has killed several other family members. Liberty and healing had come to this family. They are now new members of the Pentecostal church.

The journey to Tambura was more than a challenge. Our technical team spent 2 days constructing a bridge so our truck and all the equipment could pass over! The journey of just 154 miles took them 3 days! The truck was now starting to show wear and tear. The engine had developed a serious oil leak pouring out almost 20 liters of oil during the 3 days. It was obvious that the engine had to be repaired. To analyze what was wrong we opened the engine to know what spares to order. To our surprise a local mechanic produced original spares and all seals! Before the SPLA took Tambura in the early nineties a German road company had a huge workshop in the town. Over the years almost everything was sold off, all except for the exact spares we needed. God had kept them just for us. Our engine is now completely fixed! We have several other repairs but I am sure nothing will stop the Gospel being proclaimed.

Yambio is home to the Zandi people who demonstrated their hunger to hear the Word of God by walking up to 12 hours just to be in the meetings. Faith and trust were extremely high as multitudes of sick arrived day after day carried on mats and on specially converted bicycles with seats draped in cushions and blankets. The blind people were led by young children. Sickness and suffering that just breaks your heart to see that moves one with compassion. They had come not for sympathy but for healing and where there is no doctor the Great Physician healed them.

The Gospel is truly a matchless message. The Gospel is truly good news. The Gospel brings hope to the hopeless, but an un-preached Gospel is no Gospel at all. I proclaimed the Gospel as simply and clearly as I possibly could, and the LORD confirmed the preached word. On the first night the entire congregation of 6000 plus raised their hands in surrender to Jesus and we estimate that approximately 10,000 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There were just too many to individually lay hands on people. One man was far outside the tent unable to get in for prayer. During the mass prayer for the sick the power of God surged through his paralysed legs. He jumped up and was able to walk! Later we found out he was a relative of one of the crusade planning committee who confirmed that he had been sick and unable to walk for a whole year. Now he was walking around and riding the bicycle that once carried him! The healing power of God literally exploded! It was like the book of Acts, it was like Jesus was present doing what he did in bible days! And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." One old lady as I was finishing the message about Jesus being the same yesterday today and forever walked down the aisle her body bent over and her head pointing in the 3 o’clock position. Every eye was on her, but the presence of God was so strong in the tent. I simply said, “Jesus Christ heals you.” She instantly stood up straight walked up and down without pain and went back to her seat. It was a miracle from God before our very eyes. To God be the glory, Jesus is still the same, The Gospel still has miracle working power.

Maridi Southern Sudan

Warm Reception.
The small plane landed on a muram airstrip in the Western Equatorial town of Maridi. We were welcomed with a choir of one hundred. The Anglican Crusade Chairman put a garland of bougainvillea flowers around our neck and I knew in my heart God had sent us to this people in His divine purposes. Moving to the tent we were surprised to see it was already full to capacity with still another 3 hours to go until the opening ceremony. The people continued to stream in and what so struck me was the amount of blind people and old people led by sticks having no hope of ever seeing again. The city officials arrived and officially opened the Crusade and we began. On the first night almost every person responded to the call of salvation. The Gospel message rang out loud and clear night after night with close to 7000 in total receiving the Lord.
Blind Healed.
Then the first blind person was healed. Mrs Eva was totally blind for 8 years and unable to even venture out of the house alone, the power of God touched her and suddenly she was able to see. She no longer needed anyone to lead her she could see perfectly. This sparked off faith and the blind began to come in to every meeting. The Lord rewarded them and at least 8 that we know of received their eyesight.

One lady was deaf and blind, The Lord opened her eyes and ears, she was so blessed not wanting to miss out on anything she commented I still have a small pain in my side can that be healed as well? What tremendous faith in God these precious people of Sudan have.

Backslidden and an alcoholic for 28 years.
One dear old man testified “I’ve had no appetite for alcohol for 6 days, I never want it again. Jesus has visited me I have seen a vision and I now know Jesus is real. I have been filled with the Holy Spirit and I want to serve God forever now.”
Deliverance from evil spirits.
An old lady troubled with demons testified how she saw a man wearing shining white garments coming towards her. As this man came closer and closer she testified how she saw 4 men dressed in black begin to move away. Then she said now he is reaching out and touching my heart, she exclaimed now peace is coming to me and the 4 men dressed in black are now gone. I want this man to stay forever

 

YEI Crusade

Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?

Thank you for helping us to take the healing balm of the Gospel to Yei. We can truly testify that we know and have seen that there is power in the Gospel. We preached the ABC of the Gospel every night and the Holy Spirit took the ABC of the Gospel and drove it deep into the hearts. What followed is remarkable. The matchless light of the Gospel drew almost the whole town to hear. The first day we started like the day of Pentecost with close to 3000 responding to the call of salvation! Then all sorts of testimonies of healing, deliverance and salvation began to rock the town. These were our best meetings ever.
A well-known witchdoctor tried to curse the meetings by hiding all sorts of paraphernalia behind the tent.

Of course nothing happened except that he got saved and repented of his way of life by publicly burning all the witchcraft items. The next day he testified that peace had come to his life and instead of being tormented by demons he was able to sleep like a baby. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptised in water and brought several of his former customers to us for deliverance this caused hundreds of others to respond. Our deliverance team was active from morning to night casting out demons and almost everyday we burnt various witchcraft items

Man comes all the way from Bahr El Ghazal 100's miles away
A Soldier testifies with medical report in his hand. How he had been injured by a bomb causing tremendous pain and suffering As he laid his own hand on himself and a general prayer for healing was prayed Jesus instantly healed him all the pain left.
He was overjoyed and surrendered his life to Jesus